China, in its quest to gain global superiority, now has more diplomatic posts in other countries than any other nation, making it the largest diplomatic force in the world, according to a report from an Australian think tank.

This year, China reached 276 posts, passing the U.S. by three. The report suggests America got caught in “a period of limbo.”

“In two years, Beijing has grown its network by five diplomatic posts … it’s ascent to the top spot has been rapid. In 2016, China was in third place behind the U.S. and France, and by 2017 it had moved to second place ahead of France,” Bonnie Bley, a Lowy Institute research fellow, wrote in a breakdown of the report.

“At the same time, the United States’ diplomatic presence has been marginally eroded since 2017. With a hollowed-out State Department – only 73 per cent of key positions are filled … American diplomacy is looking rudderless.”

It’s ascent to the top spot has been rapid

Bley told CNN embassies support political relationships between countries while consulates focus on economic cooperation. She thinks China’s consulates have been more effective at leveraging Bejing’s economic goals.

Though, the U.S. remains the most popular place for countries to maintain embassies and consulates “by a wide margin” compared to China, “a distant second.”

The report also notes China exploited Taiwan’s losses. Taiwan had “the biggest drop in diplomatic posts, down from 22 embassies in 2016 to 15 today – and this has directly contributed to China’s lead over the U.S.”

“Quantity is one thing, but the quality of China’s diplomatic engagement will determine the real boost to its international reputation,” Bley said.

France, Japan, Russia and Australia trailed behind China and the U.S. respectively.

The Canadian flag flies above the Canadian embassy in Beijing on Jan. 15, 2019.Greg Baker / AFP

Canada’s stagnant presence was nothing to write home about, as Bley didn’t mention the country in her postmortem report. Canada has remained in 18th place since 2016. It currently has 144 posts consisting of 96 embassies or high commissions, 36 consulates, 10 permanent missions (for organizations like NATO and the UN), one representative office in Palestine and one trade office in Taiwan.

Though, a briefing of the report mentions “the size of a country’s diplomatic network is of course only one indicator of the effectiveness of its diplomacy.”

“Countries such as Australia, Canada, the U.K., Switzerland and the Netherlands are adapting to budget constraints by resource sharing at certain posts,” reads the briefing.

“Canada and the U.K. announced plans in 2012 for a number of resource-sharing arrangements, and Canada and Australia already have a reciprocal arrangement for representing each others’ interests in Asia and the Americas.”

Canada’s stalled diplomatic growth and China’s ascension comes amid frosty relations between the two nations that started almost a year ago when Canada arrested Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant related to fraud charges.